AI Runtime Engineer

About Modular

At Modular, a Qualcomm company, we’re on a mission to revolutionize AI infrastructure by systematically rebuilding the AI software stack from the ground up. Our team, made up of industry leaders and experts, is building cutting-edge, modular infrastructure that simplifies AI development and deployment. By rethinking the complexities of AI systems, we’re empowering everyone to unlock AI’s full potential and tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.

About The Role

ML developers today face significant friction when deploying trained models. They work in a fragmented space with incomplete, patchwork solutions that require extensive performance tuning and model-specific optimizations. At Modular, we are building the next-generation AI platform that will radically improve how developers build and deploy AI models. A core part of this offering is a platform that enables customers to achieve state-of-the-art performance across model families and frameworks. As an AI Runtime Engineer, you will own a runtime that operates on various CPU, GPU, and accelerator hardware platforms, optimizing performance for diverse customer AI models.

LOCATION

Candidates based in the United Kingdom are welcome to apply. This role will be based in our Edinburgh office (minimum 3 days per week on-site) with relocation assistance provided for eligible candidates. All new hires complete onboarding in-person.

What You Will Do

• Design and develop runtime and cross-stack optimizations to improve CPU, GPU, and accelerator efficiency, addressing issues such as CPU overhead, caching, and data locality across multiple devices.
• Work with vendor-specific networking libraries to unlock high performance data transfer for multiple topologies.
• Collaborate with the compiler, kernels, serving, and models teams to design core technologies that achieve state-of-the‑art end‑to‑end performance on various CPU and GPU hardware.
• Collaborate with the customer success team and engage with customers to understand their performance requirements and use cases.
• Collaborate with tooling and infrastructure teams to design systems for automated performance analysis and benchmarking.

What You Bring To The Table

• 2+ years of experience working on high-performance computing systems.
• Experience in C++ programming and complex software systems.
• Experience with CPU or GPU runtime optimizations and performance analysis on CPUs, GPUs, or AI accelerators.
• Proficiency with one or more profiling tools (CPU or GPU).
• Creativity and curiosity for solving complex problems, a team‐oriented attitude that enables you to work well with others, and alignment with our culture.

Helpful, But Not Required

• Experience with ML graph optimizations, parallel / distributed programming, heterogeneous ML computation, and/or code generation.
• Exposure to MLIR, LLVM, and/or the Mojo programming language.
• Advanced degree in Computer Science or a related area is a plus.

What Modular Brings To The Table

• Amazing Team. We are a progressive and agile team with some of the industry’s best engineering and product leaders.
• World-class Benefits. In order to attract the best, we need to offer the best. Your benefits package may include comprehensive healthcare coverage, retirement and savings programs, employee stock purchase opportunities, paid time off, wellbeing resources, family support programs, and learning and development opportunities.
• Competitive Compensation. We offer very strong compensation packages, including RSU grants.
• Team Building Events. We organize regular team onsites and local meetups in Los Altos, CA as well as different cities. Traveling 2-4 times a year is expected for all roles.

Working at Modular will enable you to grow quickly as you work alongside incredibly motivated and talented people who have high standards, possess a growth mindset, and a purpose to truly change the world.

The estimated base salary range for this role to be performed in the United Kingdom, is £82,800.00 - £123,600.00 GBP. The salary for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of permissible, non-discriminatory job-related factors, which include but are not limited to education, training, work experience, business needs, or market demands. This range may be modified in the future. The total compensation for a candidate will also include annual target bonus, equity, and benefits, with equity making up a significant portion of your total compensation.

For candidates who fall outside of the listed requirements, we nevertheless encourage you to apply as we may have upcoming openings that are lower/higher level than the ones advertised.

Modular is proud to emphasize an equal opportunity, safe environment for people to do their best work. Modular is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status.

If you require reasonable accommodations to participate in the interview process, please let your recruiter know, and we will work with you to meet your needs in compliance with the ADA.

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.